| Pre Prep School Welcome to Ardingly Pre-Prep Ardingly is a co-educational School in the Woodard Family founded to teach the Christian Faith. Our Aim is to enable all girls and boys to develop their love of learning, academic potential and individual talents, in a caring community which fosters sensitivity, confidence, a sense of service and enthusiasm for life.
Headmistress Deputy Head/ Reception Teacher Director of Studies/ Reception Teacher Year 2 Teacher Year 2 Teacher Year 1 Teacher Year 1 Teacher Head of Nursery Pre-Nursery Supervisor/ Nursery Assistant Pre-Nursery Supervisor (maternity cover) Nursery Nurse Nursery Assistant (maternity cover) Nursery Nurse Nursery Nurse Special Needs Teacher Dance Teacher Football Coach Teaching Assistant/ Lunchtime Supervisor
Learning Support Assistant/ Before School Supervisor Learning Support Assistant School Secretary Ms. J. Adkins Mrs. T. Cufley Mrs. E. Willcocks Mr. C. Martin Miss A. Avery Mrs. L. Griffiths Mrs. E. Knight Miss C. Morley Mrs. M. Campling Mrs. L. Tjong Mrs. V. Power Mrs. C. Clack Miss E. Holt-Miller Mrs. H. Quelch Mrs. F. Ricketts
Mrs. K. Ball Mr. A. Howell Mrs. V. Caiger Mrs. G. Maclean Mrs. N. Morgan Mrs. J. Young M.A. & B.A. (Hons) with Q.T.S. M.A., P.G.C.E B.Ed. (Hons) B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E. B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E. Cert. Ed. B.A. (hons) Q.T.S. B.Ed. (Hons) N.D.N.N. Diploma in Pre-School Practice Level 3 B.A. with Q.T.S. Diploma in Childcare & Education Level 3 B.Ed. (Hons) B.Ed. (Hons) & O.C.R. Diploma FISTD & Reg.RAD F.A. Level 3 Cert. L.S. Cert. L.S. All staff are C.R.B. checked
Contents
School Hours Arriving & Leaving Extended Day Useful Telephone Numbers Our Web Site Reception Years 1 & 2 Assemblies Clubs Contact with Teachers Special Educational Needs Meals & Snacks Swimming, Dance & Football Educational Visits Useful Things to Know Your Child’s Health Expectations of Behaviour Bullying Health & Safety Equal Opportunities Homework How Can I Help my Child? Parking The Farmhouse Friends School Prayer Uniform List
Information about the Nursery and Pre-Nursery is available in a separate Handbook.
Ardingly College has a no-smoking policy throughout the College buildings and grounds.
Dogs are not permitted in the College grounds.
School Hours
The Pre-Prep is open five days a week during school term time.
Registration is at 8.45 a.m. and the school day ends at 3.15 p.m.
There is provision to extend these hours at the beginning and end of the school day.
Arriving & Leaving
The playground is supervised from 8.30 a.m. When you and your child arrive at school he/she should change into their outdoor coat, leaving their blazer on their peg, and return to the playground to await the bell.
When the bell is rung, children will stand quietly so that the adult on duty can be heard giving instructions to go into school.
At the end of the day, parents should wait in the playground to collect their children. For safety reasons, children should not open the school gates at any time.
If someone other than parents is collecting your child, please sign the sheet on one of the notice boards. If you are going to be unexpectedly late, please telephone the school office.
Extended Day
Before School Club – is available for any child from 8.00 a.m. in the Friends’ Barn.
After School Club – is available from the end of the school day to 4.30 p.m. This is an opportunity for children to play and relax. Children will be given a drink and snack. There will be a fee for this provision.
N.B. Please refer to ‘Clubs’ section for further details.
Useful Telephone Numbers
The Farmhouse Website
The information in this handbook is available on our website. You will also find reports and photographs of our children’s work and activities. It is worth regularly accessing this site to see what we have been up to! Our website address is: www.ardingly.com
Reception Classes
Things your child will need to bring
· all clothes including vests, socks, gloves etc. should be clearly named-preferably with sewn-in fabric labels (available from the Uniform Shop)
· named wellington boots
· green nylon painting apron, available from the Uniform Shop, named and with a long loop for hanging on peg
· named armbands, swimming costume/trunks, cap and towel in a bag (cap, costume/trunks and bag available from the Uniform Shop)
· P.E. bag with complete P.E. kit (all named)
· shoes which are easy to put on and fasten - no laces please!
· green reading book bag with name clearly visible (near the handle and on the side) available from the Uniform Shop
· a small blanket for rest times during the first term
· waterproof coat with hood and old tracksuit trousers for playtimes
A reading meeting is held at the beginning of the Michaelmas term to explain the method by which reading and writing is taught in the school. We also inform parents how to use the materials that will be sent home regularly to support their child’s reading and writing development. We use a synthetic phonics system, in which letters are learned by their sounds rather than their names. At the back of this handbook is the letter formation we teach.
Years 1 and 2
These two years are also known as Key Stage I
Things your child will need to bring
· all clothes including vests, socks, gloves etc. should be clearly named -preferably with sewn-in fabric labels (available from the Uniform Shop)
· named wellington boots
· green nylon painting apron, available from the Uniform Shop, named and with a long loop
· named swimming costume/trunks, swimming cap and towel in a bag; cap and swimming bag available from the Uniform Shop
· P.E. bag with complete P.E. kit (all named)
· footballers will need an old warm tracksuit to wear over football kit and a hat for the winter
· velcro fastened football boots
· green reading book bag (named near the handle), available from the Uniform Shop
· waterproof coat/anorak with hood and old tracksuit trousers for playtimes
· leotard for dance (available from the Uniform Shop)
Dance is part of the curriculum and whilst tuition is free, a charge is made for the annual examination fee.
A recorder and book are provided by the school but the charge for this is included on the end of term bill. Recorder books are provided but must be returned at the end of the school year.
Assemblies
Children attend assemblies regularly throughout the week but on Fridays parents are invited to join our Special Assembly. This starts at 10.05 a.m. and usually lasts about twenty minutes. This is the time when our ‘special ribbons’ are awarded, and children may play instruments they are learning, or recite a poem or prayer. Any child wishing to perform needs to speak to Ms. Adkins in advance.
Clubs
There are optional after school activities for Years 1 and 2.
These are:
· Cricket - short course for Year 2 only during the summer term.
Contact with Teachers
There are formal consultations and reports throughout the year:
Reception – Consultation Evenings are held during the second half of Michaelmas term and Lent term. Written reports are presented at end of Summer Term.
Years 1 & 2 – Consultation Evening held during Lent term. Written report at end of Michaelmas and Summer terms.
If you have any concerns at other times, do not hesitate to speak to your child’s class teacher. It is preferable to do this at the end of a school day, as first thing in the morning teachers are preparing their rooms. However, we understand that occasionally there are circumstances that will not wait until the end of the day.
Each child has a yellow contact book, which is kept in their book bag. This provides a means of communication between parents and teachers.
Special Educational Needs
Our aim is to identify pupils’ learning needs so that we may provide appropriate levels of challenge within the classroom. Our specialist teacher will carry out assessments so that we may plan for each child’s differing needs in the most appropriate way. Parents will be kept fully informed. For some children, extra help from Mrs. Ricketts, our specialist teacher may be required. Such lessons will incur an extra fee.
Meals & Snacks
Children have the choice of milk or water, together with a piece of fruit, before playtime in the morning.
Fresh food is prepared each day and your child is given the choice of a hot or cold lunch.
The menus are displayed on our notice boards, as well on our website. Your child needs to select his/her meal the day before it is to be eaten and this choice is made within the classroom.
Drinking water is available in all classrooms throughout the day.
Swimming, Dance & Football
Swimming - is part of the curriculum and it is expected that, if your child is at school, they are fit enough to swim. (In exceptional circumstances please speak to the class teacher). Children need the regulation school swimming bag, costume/trunks and hat in school on the day they are to swim. These can be purchased from the Uniform Shop. Reception children need named arm-bands at the beginning of the Michaelmas term, which will be stored at school.
Swimming timetable: Reception – Wednesday afternoon Year 2 – Thursday afternoon Year 1 – Thursday afternoon
Dance & Football – On Friday our dance teacher, Miss Kay, comes into school. Reception children have a lesson but do not need special clothing. At the beginning of Year 1, children choose between dance or football and continue with this choice throughout their time at The Farmhouse. Dancers dress in a leotard (available from the Uniform Shop) and footballers need a football kit (of their choice), velcro-fastened football boots (available from the Uniform Shop), shin pads and a warm tracksuit and hat. Our coach, Mr. Howell, has F.A. qualifications.
Educational Visits
As well as using the extensive school grounds to enrich your child’s learning we also arrange school trips for each year group. You will be sent details of these in advance with a parental consent form and details of any cost, which need to be returned to the school office. All of our teachers are approved to drive the school mini buses, and a thorough risk assessment is made before embarking on any trip.
Useful Things to Know
Children are discouraged from bringing toys to school, although from time to time they will be asked to bring in something that links to the work they are undertaking at school.
Girls’ hair should be tied back and all hair accessories should be dark green and named. The school uniform shop stocks a range of hair clips, etc.
Jewellery and watches should not be worn at school.
‘Flashing’ shoes are not permitted.
In the interests of safety, younger brothers and sisters should not be allowed on any apparatus whilst waiting in the school playground.
Children should not open the school gates.
We will seek re-imbursement for lost or damaged library and school reading books.
Your Child’s Health
It is important that your child is fit and well when s/he comes to school. If s/he has a high temperature then it is better for them to stay at home and recover. Please phone the school office if your child is absent.
We follow the guidance on infection produced by the Health Protection Agency. The full version is displayed on the parents’ notice board, but included below are some of the most common ailments:
Please notify us of any cases of infectious diseases.
All prescribed medicines coming into school must be handed to a member of staff for safe-keeping. The details will be recorded in the medicine book which provides a permanent record of when children have been given medicine. We are unable to administer any medication that is not prescribed by a doctor.
Should your child become unwell at school, you will be notified immediately and asked to collect him/her as soon as possible. If we are unable to contact either parent, your child will be looked after by qualified medical staff in the College Medical Centre.
If your child bangs their head at school we will send home a letter informing you of the circumstances and what symptoms to look out for.
Please ensure that the school is notified of any medically endorsed allergies from which your child may suffer.
Sun Protection
We recommend P.20 as it provides all day protection. We request that this is applied before children come into school. Since some children have nut allergies, we do not allow sun creams with this ingredient in our school. In sunny weather, the children wear their school sunhats when outside.
Expectations of Behaviour
Staff of The Farmhouse are committed to the idea that good, positive behaviour should be reinforced by praise and recognition. Reinforcement and clearly defined acceptable limits of behaviour, coupled with an emphasis on good manners, quickly establishes an excellent code of conduct.
Children are taught to care about each other, to take a responsibility for the feelings of others and to value their environment and resources not only in the world at large, but within The Farmhouse.
Our procedures are simple. Normally an incident can be prevented by a quiet word or by diverting attention. Occasionally a child may need to be temporarily removed from an activity until he/she is ready to join in with a more positive attitude. On the very rare occurrence of a child biting or causing a physical mark on another child, a reprimand is given to the aggressor, an apology must be made and the parents of both children are informed.
Bullying
Our aim is to provide a supportive, caring and safe environment in which children may learn without fear of being bullied. Behaviour that is deliberately hurtful and repeated over time will not be tolerated. We have a strong Personal, Social, Health Education curriculum, which encourages all children to reflect on behaviour and helps to develop social skills and strategies to deal with these experiences.
Health & Safety
Ardingly College is committed to promoting a safe and healthy environment for both children and staff.
All staff recognize their duty to take care of their own health and safety and the health and safety of others affected by their actions.
Health and safety procedures are followed closely, according to College regulations.
We undertake to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
Equal Opportunities
Regardless of race, gender, attainment, special educational needs or language difficulties, we provide the education and opportunities that will help all children fulfil their potential and the aims of our school.
Homework
Reception
Letter formation sheets, phonic games and activities are sent home regularly, with instructions as to how to make the most of them with your child. These resources are yours to keep to use little and often with your child. When your child is ready to start reading from books, these will also be sent home every evening, except swimming day. In the last term, a few ‘tricky word’ spellings are also sent home each week.
Year 1 and 2
Children are expected to read daily for approximately ten minutes. Spellings are sent home weekly. Children are also expected to practice their recorder.
How Can I Help My Child?
Read and share books with your child as often as possible, even when they become an independent reader they should be read to. Children will bring a school library book of their choice home each week but regular visits to the local library will also encourage a love of books. Each child will also bring home a school reading book which they should read each evening. Please indicate the page read to and sign the contact book to confirm this.
Spellings are sent home regularly as your child progresses through the school, and s/he will need support in learning these. We use a method called “Look, cover, write, check” for learning spellings.
Encourage your child to solve mathematical problems that occur during daily life, so that they apply their developing mathematical knowledge to real life situations.
Parking
A car park is designated for Farmhouse parents. Please remember to manoeuvre with care as children will be around. Parking is at the owner’s risk. Please discourage children from opening any school gates and remind them to walk whilst in the car park.
The Farmhouse Friends
The Farmhouse Friends is the parents’ social committee for The Farmhouse School. Their aim is to encourage parents to get to know each other and make new friends. It is very informal and is composed of a committee of parents, plus one member of staff. Usually at the beginning of each term, they organize a coffee morning for parents after the morning bell has sounded for the beginning of school, and there is often a social event during the term. Some events are planned in conjunction with the Friends of the Junior and Senior schools.
They do not aim to make large sums of money but any surplus funds raised are used to subsidise future events and to purchase any particular item requested for the school. There is an AGM held in June when new committee members are elected.
School Prayer
Father in heaven hear my prayer Keep me in thy loving care Be my guide in all I do Bless all those who love me too
Amen
Uniform List
All uniform items must be purchased from the Uniform Shop. Second hand clothes are available. * Items may be bought elsewhere.
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